Bai Guang
Encyclopedia
Bai Guang was a famous movie star and singer. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven great singing stars
.
's play "Sunrise". In 1937, she studied at the University of Tokyo
's music department until World War II in 1942.
After drama school, she wanted to be a movie star. As she proclaimed, she wanted to be like the beams of light coming off the movie projector
s onto the big screen. Hence, her stage name was (白光), which translated to "White Light".
songs were often used in many of the movies as soundtracks. In an age and culture where light, higher voices were usually favored, she had a slightly deep and hoarse voice, which helped her become a big star in Shanghai. People called her the "Queen of the Low Voice" (低音歌后).
Bai's big screen career started in 1943. She was known for playing seductive roles due to her flirtatious image on screen and has also played villains at times. She lent a more dramatic tone or sexy attitude to her songs. Some of her hits include "Autumn Evening" (秋夜), "Without You" (如果沒有你), "The Pretender" (假正經), "Revisiting Old Dreams" (魂縈舊夢), and "Waiting For You" (等著你回來).
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China
in 1949, "A Forgotten Woman" was the first PRC film shown in Hong Kong. Even the governor
, Alexander Grantham
went as a fan.
Upon the Communist takeover in 1949, Bai moved to Hong Kong. By 1950 Bai tired of the low-quality films she was given and retired as an actress in China. After marrying an American GI in 1951, she lived in Japan and successfully opened a nightclub in Tokyo's Ginza
District in 1953. The union did not last, and she returned to Hong Kong, recording some music through 1959 when she officially retired. In 1969 she resettled in the Kuala Lumpur, where she married a man 20 years her junior. She performed to wide acclaim in 1979 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Her last public appearance was in 1995 at Hong Kong's TV top 10 Chinese singer award presentation.
On August 27, 1999 she died in Kuala Lumpur due to colon cancer at the age of 78.
, Malaysia. It is unique since it plays her music. Her gravesite attracts visitors from all around the world including China, Hong Kong, Germany
, Denmark
and Spain
.
Seven great singing stars
The Seven Great Singing Stars refers to the seven most renowned singers of China in the early 20th century.-Background:Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese in the 1930s. World War II also had an effect on the economy at the time. Several of the stars acted in films, and their music played a...
.
Biography
In her early years, Bai was a student of the Beiping Salon Theatrical Troupe (北平沙龙剧团), and once performed Cao YuCao Yu
Cao Yu , born as Wan Jiabao , was a renowned Chinese playwright, often regarded as China's most important of the 20th century. His most well-known works are Thunderstorm , Sunrise and Peking Man...
's play "Sunrise". In 1937, she studied at the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
's music department until World War II in 1942.
After drama school, she wanted to be a movie star. As she proclaimed, she wanted to be like the beams of light coming off the movie projector
Movie projector
A movie projector is an opto-mechanical device for displaying moving pictures by projecting them on a projection screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in movie cameras.-Physiology:...
s onto the big screen. Hence, her stage name was (白光), which translated to "White Light".
Career
Her mandopopMandopop
Mandopop is a colloquial abbreviation for "Mandarin popular music." It is categorized as a subgenre of commercial Chinese-language music within C-pop. Mandopop was the first variety of popular music in Chinese to establish itself as a viable industry. As the name implies, Mandopop features songs...
songs were often used in many of the movies as soundtracks. In an age and culture where light, higher voices were usually favored, she had a slightly deep and hoarse voice, which helped her become a big star in Shanghai. People called her the "Queen of the Low Voice" (低音歌后).
Bai's big screen career started in 1943. She was known for playing seductive roles due to her flirtatious image on screen and has also played villains at times. She lent a more dramatic tone or sexy attitude to her songs. Some of her hits include "Autumn Evening" (秋夜), "Without You" (如果沒有你), "The Pretender" (假正經), "Revisiting Old Dreams" (魂縈舊夢), and "Waiting For You" (等著你回來).
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1949, "A Forgotten Woman" was the first PRC film shown in Hong Kong. Even the governor
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, Alexander Grantham
Alexander Grantham
Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham, GCMG was a British colonial administrator who governed Hong Kong and Fiji.-Early life, colonial administration career:...
went as a fan.
Upon the Communist takeover in 1949, Bai moved to Hong Kong. By 1950 Bai tired of the low-quality films she was given and retired as an actress in China. After marrying an American GI in 1951, she lived in Japan and successfully opened a nightclub in Tokyo's Ginza
Ginza
is a district of Chūō, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Uchisaiwaichō, and north of Shinbashi.It is known as an upscale area of Tokyo with numerous department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffeehouses. Ginza is recognized as one of the most...
District in 1953. The union did not last, and she returned to Hong Kong, recording some music through 1959 when she officially retired. In 1969 she resettled in the Kuala Lumpur, where she married a man 20 years her junior. She performed to wide acclaim in 1979 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Her last public appearance was in 1995 at Hong Kong's TV top 10 Chinese singer award presentation.
On August 27, 1999 she died in Kuala Lumpur due to colon cancer at the age of 78.
Legacy
Bai's tomb rests in SemenyihSemenyih
Semenyih is a small town in Selangor, Malaysia, about 8 km southeast of Kajang along the Kajang-Seremban road. The meaning of the name of the town is not certain...
, Malaysia. It is unique since it plays her music. Her gravesite attracts visitors from all around the world including China, Hong Kong, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Filmography
- Love Peas of Southland (红豆生南国) (1943)
- The Fire of Love (恋之火) (1943)
- Spy Ring #13 (十三号凶宅) (1947)
- Blood Stained Begonia (血染海棠红) (1949)
- A Forgotten Woman (荡妇心) (1949)
- Songs in the Rainy Nights (雨夜歌声) (1950)
- A Strange Women (一代妖姬) (1950)
- Smiling Rose (玫瑰花开)
- Hours Passed the Wedding (结婚廿四小时) (1950)
- Tears of Songstress (歌女红菱艳)(1953)